Mohammed Hanif (journalist and author) has been honored with the third-highest civilian award of Pakistan, the Sitara-e-Imtiaz.
Over the years, the renown journalist has raised his voice on key issues and is the writer of the critically-acclaimed novel, A Case of Exploding Mangoes.
Hanif took to Twitter to thank well wishers and ask if anyone knows how he can collect the award.
Thank you all for your lovely messages. Now can someone pls tell me how does one collect it because GoP is a bit coy on the subject. Thrilled at the prospects of meeting fellow winners Fidel and Amanullah. Hope we all get to party with President Mamnun
— Mohammed Hanif (@mohammedhanif) March 17, 2018
Hanif who grew up in Okara, Punjab, enlisted in the military and trained as a fighter pilot but left it to enter journalism. A graduate of the University of East Anglia, Hanif moved to London to work for the BBC in 1996 where he remained until 2008.
Along with being a journalist and novelist, Hanif is also a playwright.
His A Case of Exploding Mangoes was long-listed for the Booker Prize, shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award, and won the Commonwealth Prize for Best Book. His second book, Our Lady of Alice Bhatti, won the Wellcome Book Prize.
Hanif’s next venture would be a collaboration with composer Mohammed Fairouz on an opera titled Bhutto.
To win Sitara-e-Imtiaz for his work and efforts is truly an honour for Mohammad Hanif and is definitely praise worthy.
